Hotpoint BF162 Dishwasher

[Rowey]

Can anyone help?

Hotpoint BF162
Our dishwasher (2.5 years old) makes a strange metallic vibrating / chattering noise at startup for a few minutes – and then throughout cyle – this disappears at various times in the cycle. I’ve pulled off the black access panels on the lower front and the noise seems to emanate from some of the plastic valve / pipework in there. The noise does disappear totally as the rotors are spinning and seems to be related (I think) to the filling or emptying of the machine – although it does also occur towards the end of the programme too. Machine fills and runs cycles no probs but……..

Dishwasher performance has deteriorated – although I strongly suspect this is unrelated to the noise as we have a tendency to overfill it. Glass comes out misty and covered in a greasy film ( we also often find that the salt is used up very quickly. Just trying a test run with few items in.

Update – test-run – the noise hasn’t reappeared yet (30mins into programme) but it WAS there at start of prog. – we’re waiting on the dried condition of the glassware to see if the performance issue is unrelated – can I stress that the buzzing sounds like a solenoid chattering.

Test run finished – all glassware coated in misty white film – seems like dried on salt (might this fault arise if rinse aid isn’t being dispensed?

[Penguin45]

Re: Hotpoint BF162 Dishwasher

BFI62……. First thing the machine does on any programme is run the drain pump. Therefore, that’s the first thing to check. Wash results are consistent with a full charge of clean water not being added through the programme.

Power off if investigating.

Regards,
Penguin45.

[Rowey]

Re: Hotpoint BF162 Dishwasher

Thanks for taking the time to reply Penguin45.

Is the drain pump the large plastic cylinder about 4 inches in diameter right at the front of the base of the machine on the extreme left? This is a pale browny orange on our machine but this is probably due to staining over the years. The chattering buzzing noise is coming from IT or something above it. Also, a black rubber pipe comes from the overflow valve in the base of the machine (I assume to drain water into the bottom sump if the machine internally floods, raising the cutoff switch). Is the other end of this pipe supposed to be loose in the bottom sump of the machine – or should it be attached somewhere else and has come off?

I’ve requested an engineer via the Whitegoods link but are waiting for him to phone to book appointment.

Mike Rowe

[Penguin45]

Re: Hotpoint BF162 Dishwasher

Left front is the softener unit. It has a solenoid attached to allow water to be released into the machine. If it’s chattering, there may well be a problem with the electronics. Drain pump is to the right – you’ll see the grey drain hose coming off it.

Penguin45.

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